Policy Successes and New Laws, 2015-2016

Thanks to advocates and activists all over California, we now have better protections for DV/SA related sick leave and early lease termination, in addition to awesome changes in the U-Visa process for undocumented survivors of abuse. Also, the California education system now has greater ability to hold perpetrators accountable for sexual assault and high school graduates will be better equipped with knowledge on healthy relationships and identifying abuse.

Successes and new laws that pertain to survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, 2015-2016:

“If a tenant is in an unsafe living environment, they are able to break the lease with a statement from a counselor or caseworker (previously, the survivor could only request termination of a lease if they filed a police report or obtained a restraining order). [Also] the new law makes it easier to leave by decreasing the survivor’s remaining rent obligation from 30 days… to 14 days.”

Improved U-Visa process for immigrants who are survivors of abuse (SB 674)

“a U-visa allows immigrant violent crime victims, along with close family members, to apply to live and work in the U.S. if they assist law enforcement in bringing perpetrators to justice.”

SB674:

Requires that a U-visa application receive a decision within 90-days (previously, this process could take 2-3 years)

Creates a “presumption of helpfulness” – meaning that the survivor no longer has to prove helpfulness; her or his helpfulness is presumed unless proven otherwise.

Requires agencies to report the number of U-visa requests they received and which were denied and approved in an attempt to increase transparency and highlight potential inequity across jurisdictions.

Sexual Harassment & Violence Course for High School Graduation(SB 695):

This bill “requires health courses, which are a condition of graduation at a majority of California high schools, to provide instruction on sexual assault, violence and the importance of developing positive, healthy relationships.” The curriculum must include information on the affirmative consent standard established in SB 967, which was signed into law last year (also known as “Yes-Means-Yes”).